Day 5 Update on That Sealie Boy
2/24/10 11:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wobblerlorriHe decided he wanted to explore the house Monday afternoon, waaaay ahead of what I thought would be his schedule. It was just a short explore, essentially just into the hallway, short of the living room, then he ran back into his room. He ventured out 2 or 3 more times, then was happy to go back in his room and cogitate on it.
Yesterday morning DreamBeau decided he wanted to explore the house at 5 am. So I shuffled everyone else into various bedrooms, and let him out. He went everywhere this time, not stopping at the edge of the living room like he did yesterday! Finally he was done and went back in his room. We had a brief play, then back to bed until 8 am, when he placed an order for breakfast.
After he ate, he requested another exploration, so I corralled everyone again and let him out. This exploration was done with tail held high, not slinking and worried. Brave Beau! While he was exploring, I let Jack explore his room, but left the doors open for easy retreat.
Beau went to investigate the bedroom while Jack was checking out his room, then headed back into his room, surprising Jack! Jack gave a hiss and some growls, DB was unimpressed and sniffed her haunch, which sent Jack into a scamper back out of his room. Beau stalked proudly around his room, his tail high and puffed. I closed his door, and we had a short play while I told him how brave he was. Then he took his post-breakfast nap.
Yesterday afternoon Mike put up the screen door to his room, because he's been getting bored with isolation. Now he can watch Cat TV as everyone passes by. First he sat in front of the door, and Jack prowled back and forth making the funniest noise, sort of a hummy grunt. Beau would stand up on the screen trying to figure out if he can climb the screen, and Jack was wondering how to unlatch the door. There were a few hisses on Jack's part, but just interest on Beau's.
Dreamer McBeauBeau had another out about 3 pm -- I think it was a bit long for him, and I was involved in internet stuff so I couldn't really watch him. He got a bit frightened by Mike wandering around, and somehow managed to get into the water heater room! I went and rescued him, and he scampered into his room and got in his Millie bed, then said "mroooooow" at me very quietly.
He wasn't freaked, I don't think, he scampered with his tail up and looked at me the whole time, but he was happy to have his solid door closed I think -- there were no knockings on the door or plaintive meezer rowls wanting back out! I think it may have been a bit much, but I think he's okay.
To ease the transition from screen door to face to face interaction, I ordered a Feliway diffuser and a refill, mostly so that Bill won't start spraying and Crystal won't get hyped up. I ordered it from Amazon, and used my Amazon Prime to get cheap next day delivery. Ordered it Tuesday, got it Wednesday.
The Feliway is already working, he and Bill are less prickly and Jack is definitely trying to get DB to play. Beau is talking to Mike, too, and I think if I'd been supervising like I should have been he wouldn't have gone into the water heater room and felt trapped... I feel bad about that. But I don't think any major harm's been done. Just a little overload, which a warm nap in the Millie bed and some isolation will take care of...
I lost track of time and suddenly it was 5:30, supper time! So I went into the kitchen to get supper for the outdoors and snacks for Crys and Jack, then fixed DB's supper, just in case he was ready for it. I had planned to open his door and check on him, but no need -- he had already opened the solid door and was sitting looking through the screen saying "Where's SUPPER!!!?!?!?????" Such a resilient boy!
So he had supper, and a feather time, and a snuggle time, then another out. It's funny how he's already got different approaches to Bill, Jack and Maggie: He's politely forward with Bill, but not aggressive -- he's confident and saying "I'm me, and I'm okay with you being you, but I'm not a weenie either". With Jack, he's beginning to be a bit bouncy and "let's play!", but he's feeling her out as to just how much she wants to play. I believe he'll find out the first time she ambushes him and starts a tussle! With Maggie, after he startled her and made her holler earlier, he's been very polite and quiet, just coming close enough for a polite nose sniff then he immediately backs away, which reassures Miss Maggie.
I let him have another short out before bed, and he discovered Crystal... or rather she discovered him. She followed him around, and he carefully ignored her. When he met her face to face, he stopped and just stood where he was, tail up and head lowered, letting her come to him. She sniffed his nose, then his head, then hissed and whacked him but with no claws -- that's MILD for Cryssie! He didn't retaliate, didn't run away, just sat down and looked the other way until Crys walked away. Then he explored the kitchen some more (up on the counters, too!), and Crystal approached him again.
Same thing, same attitude from him, but this time Cryssie just sniffed, then sniffed along his body, then walked away! That is NOT AT ALL the reaction I expected from Crystal! DB is such a sensitive little soul, and seems to know what each cat needs as far as input from him. I'm really impressed with his treatment of Crystal -- it's like he knows she needs space and has to approach him, and not the other way around. She's really acting no different than when we brought Jacky out in the house as a young kitten.
This Sealie Boy is quite a discerning and intelligent young man!
Yesterday morning DreamBeau decided he wanted to explore the house at 5 am. So I shuffled everyone else into various bedrooms, and let him out. He went everywhere this time, not stopping at the edge of the living room like he did yesterday! Finally he was done and went back in his room. We had a brief play, then back to bed until 8 am, when he placed an order for breakfast.
After he ate, he requested another exploration, so I corralled everyone again and let him out. This exploration was done with tail held high, not slinking and worried. Brave Beau! While he was exploring, I let Jack explore his room, but left the doors open for easy retreat.
Beau went to investigate the bedroom while Jack was checking out his room, then headed back into his room, surprising Jack! Jack gave a hiss and some growls, DB was unimpressed and sniffed her haunch, which sent Jack into a scamper back out of his room. Beau stalked proudly around his room, his tail high and puffed. I closed his door, and we had a short play while I told him how brave he was. Then he took his post-breakfast nap.
Yesterday afternoon Mike put up the screen door to his room, because he's been getting bored with isolation. Now he can watch Cat TV as everyone passes by. First he sat in front of the door, and Jack prowled back and forth making the funniest noise, sort of a hummy grunt. Beau would stand up on the screen trying to figure out if he can climb the screen, and Jack was wondering how to unlatch the door. There were a few hisses on Jack's part, but just interest on Beau's.
Dreamer McBeauBeau had another out about 3 pm -- I think it was a bit long for him, and I was involved in internet stuff so I couldn't really watch him. He got a bit frightened by Mike wandering around, and somehow managed to get into the water heater room! I went and rescued him, and he scampered into his room and got in his Millie bed, then said "mroooooow" at me very quietly.
He wasn't freaked, I don't think, he scampered with his tail up and looked at me the whole time, but he was happy to have his solid door closed I think -- there were no knockings on the door or plaintive meezer rowls wanting back out! I think it may have been a bit much, but I think he's okay.
To ease the transition from screen door to face to face interaction, I ordered a Feliway diffuser and a refill, mostly so that Bill won't start spraying and Crystal won't get hyped up. I ordered it from Amazon, and used my Amazon Prime to get cheap next day delivery. Ordered it Tuesday, got it Wednesday.
The Feliway is already working, he and Bill are less prickly and Jack is definitely trying to get DB to play. Beau is talking to Mike, too, and I think if I'd been supervising like I should have been he wouldn't have gone into the water heater room and felt trapped... I feel bad about that. But I don't think any major harm's been done. Just a little overload, which a warm nap in the Millie bed and some isolation will take care of...
I lost track of time and suddenly it was 5:30, supper time! So I went into the kitchen to get supper for the outdoors and snacks for Crys and Jack, then fixed DB's supper, just in case he was ready for it. I had planned to open his door and check on him, but no need -- he had already opened the solid door and was sitting looking through the screen saying "Where's SUPPER!!!?!?!?????" Such a resilient boy!
So he had supper, and a feather time, and a snuggle time, then another out. It's funny how he's already got different approaches to Bill, Jack and Maggie: He's politely forward with Bill, but not aggressive -- he's confident and saying "I'm me, and I'm okay with you being you, but I'm not a weenie either". With Jack, he's beginning to be a bit bouncy and "let's play!", but he's feeling her out as to just how much she wants to play. I believe he'll find out the first time she ambushes him and starts a tussle! With Maggie, after he startled her and made her holler earlier, he's been very polite and quiet, just coming close enough for a polite nose sniff then he immediately backs away, which reassures Miss Maggie.
I let him have another short out before bed, and he discovered Crystal... or rather she discovered him. She followed him around, and he carefully ignored her. When he met her face to face, he stopped and just stood where he was, tail up and head lowered, letting her come to him. She sniffed his nose, then his head, then hissed and whacked him but with no claws -- that's MILD for Cryssie! He didn't retaliate, didn't run away, just sat down and looked the other way until Crys walked away. Then he explored the kitchen some more (up on the counters, too!), and Crystal approached him again.
Same thing, same attitude from him, but this time Cryssie just sniffed, then sniffed along his body, then walked away! That is NOT AT ALL the reaction I expected from Crystal! DB is such a sensitive little soul, and seems to know what each cat needs as far as input from him. I'm really impressed with his treatment of Crystal -- it's like he knows she needs space and has to approach him, and not the other way around. She's really acting no different than when we brought Jacky out in the house as a young kitten.
This Sealie Boy is quite a discerning and intelligent young man!
